"The Great Estes Park Land Grab" opens Friday

Clara Hennaseed (Kay Mitchell) and the Duke of Dudraven (Rich Mitchell) haggle over ownership of her egg ranch

You better bring a strong love of cheap humor, bad puns, and the dramatic device called an "aside" when you attend this year`s melodrama at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies. They`re all in there, in large quantities, and without apology. But that`s just part of what a melodrama is all about. The play opens Friday, April 1, at 7 p.m. and again on April 2, 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. and a matinee at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 10.

"The Great Estes Park Land Grab" or "There`s Not a Ghost of a Chance It Happened This Way" is a catch basin for all kinds of jokes, plays-on-words, and asides -- a theatrical "time out," where one of the actors lets the audience in on what they`re really thinking, while the other actors are frozen in place on stage.

Clowns in an olio before the play begins

Here`s a sample of the dialogue between the Duke of Dudraven (aka the Earl of Dunraven) and Clara Hennaseed, who owns a chicken ranch the Duke wants to buy:

* Clara: "I got eggs in places you can`t even imagine."

* Duke: "Well, with all those eggs, tell me -- how much did you have to shell out for this place?"

* Clara: "Nada. Zip. Nothing. Big fat goose egg."

* Duke: "If you will sell me your ranch, I`m willing to pay you twice what you paid for it."

* Clara: "What do you think I am -- some kind of a dumb cluck?"

"We have an interesting history in Estes Park, but we didn`t adhere to that very closely," explains Rich Mitchell, who wrote the play and also plays the Duke of Dudraven.

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"History informed the story, it didn`t become the story."

Mitchell admits there could be a lot of groans coming from the audience when one of his puns or plays-on-words spills out on stage.

"The story is told in a kind of a melodramatic and a humorous style. Hopefully, it`s humorous," he says. "It may be only humorous in my mind. You know, the trouble with puns, is even if people don`t get them, the line still makes sense."

Then Mitchell adds with a laugh, "No pun intended, and certainly none noticed."

In another scene in the play, we get a play-on-words and an aside all within a matter of seconds. The Duke and Trapper Jim (the stage persona of Rocky Mountain Jim Nugent) are discussing the details of conducting a duel to settle their dispute over land purchases. With them is Sly Shyster, the Duke`s sidekick attorney:

* Duke: "I`m thinking that part may be a little tricky for somebody like you. But first, we gotta get a second."

* Trapper Jim: "Take all the time you want. I`ll give you a whole minute if you need it."

* Duke: "No, you ignorant mountain goat. A second is someone who checks both of our guns to make sure it`s gonna be a fair fight."

Aside to the audience

"Or, in this case, to make sure I win and that he dies. Ha ha ha ha."

Aside ends

"Sly, here, can be our second. As a lawyer, he is always fair and impartial."

Wait for the boos

That scene brings up another point. You`re supposed to, are expected to and are encouraged to, boo and hiss at the villains and cheer on the heroes and heroines. You also can throw popcorn at the actors as they perform. That`s why popcorn and sarsaparilla (root beer) will be on sale in the lobby before the play and during the intermission.

"This is going to be a funny play and an entertaining evening for the entire family," saidBarb Cole, the director. "If you have never been to a melodrama before, this is a great one to see. Rich has written a great script that should really resonate with Estes Park residents, because it features virtually all of the major characters in our history. But be sure to tell your children not to base any paper for a school history class on what they see on stage."

Tickets for "The Great Estes Park Land Grab" or "There`s Not a Ghost of a Chance It Happened This Way" are on sale at Macdonald Book Shop and at the church office at 1700 Brodie Ave. or at the door. Adults are $10, children 12 and under $5.

The cast of The Great Estes Park Land Grab or There s Not a Ghost of a Chance it Happened This Way.